Improvement in stove-grates



UNITED STATES WILLIAM J. KEEP, OF TROY, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN STOVE-GRATESe Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.139,583, dated Jute 3, 1873; application tiled April 4, 1H73.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. KEEP, of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and in the State ofNeW York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in StoveGrates;

and do hereby declare that the following is a Y full, clear, and exact description thereof', reterence being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specitication, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper side of my improved grate. Fig. 2 is a like view of the lower side ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a crosssection upon line m ac of Fig. l, and Figs. 4", 5, 6, and 7 are, respectively,perspective views of a grate-bar, the pivotal or center bar, the shaking bar or shank, and the parallel or connecting bar. A

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in eachof the figures.

The object ofmy invention is to increase the strength, elciency, and durabilityot' stovegrates; and it consists, principally, in a grate provided with transverse bars, which are c ipale of a vibratory motion in a horizontal plane, and ot' a semi-rotation in a vertical plane, upon or around the center of vibration, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists, further, in the suspension of transverse bars from or upon a central longitudinal bar, so as to render the former capable of vibration at their points of suspension, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown. It consists, further, in the combination of the parallel connecting and vibrating bar with the transverse or grate bars, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. It consists, further, in the construction and combination of the central snp-V porting or pivotal bar and the shakin gshank, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown and described. It consists, further, in the shaking-shank and its combination with the pivotal and vibrating bars, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified. It consists, further, in the meansemployed for protecting from dust the joint between the central pivotal bar and the shaking-shank, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown. It consists, further, in the construction and combination of the end vibrating grate-barsand the contiguous portions ofthe bed-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. It consists, finally, in the grate as a Whole, when its several parts are constructed and combinedto operate.substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown and described. i

In the annexed drawing, AA and `A represent the sides, and A and A. the ends, of a bed-plate having the usual exterior form, and provided upon its lower side, and at the longitudinal centers ot'said ends, witntwo semicircular bearing-lugs, B, within which rests a metal bar, C, having the shape shown in Fig. 5. The bar O is composed of two parallel bars (seen in Fig. 3) connected together at suitable inten vals, so as to leave between their contiguous edges a series of openings, c. Upon the upper edge ot' said bar are provided a number of lugs, c', which extend upward for a short distance and form a series of notches, c, that correspond in number and vertical position to or withthe openings c. Within each notch c is placed a grate-bar,D, which has the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4, extends transversely across the bar C, andis provided with a curved lug, f1, thatextends downward intoand through the opening c, and secures said parts in relative vertical and lateralV positions. An angular lug, d', project-ing downward from the lower side of said grate-bar, opposite to the lug and fitting into a corresponding groove formed in t-he upper side of said bar C, and a shoulder, d, formed upon saidlugdand bearing against the sides ot' the opening c, (as seen in Fig. 3,) prevent said grate-bar from turning upon said har C. Upon the lower side oi' each grate-bar D, and at the end opposite to the lug d is provided hooked lug, d, that eX-\ tends downward and then horizontally outward to or neara point opposite the end of said bar, and furnishes a bearing for, and upon which is placed, a connectingbar, E, that has the form shown in. Fig. 7, said bar E being provided with ascries o t' openings, c, which correspond insize, number, and position to the like features of the lugs df of the series of grate-bars. As the grate-bars iitloosely into the notches c it will be seen that, by moving the connecting-bar E longitudinally and alternately in opposite directions, a uniform vibratory motion will be givenV to the-series of grate-bars, which motion will be in a horizontal plane, and its center will be the point of intersection, vertically, of said gratebars and the center-bar C. In order that the grate-bars may be shaken when desired, the outer end of the bar C is enlarged, and upon one side is provided a semi-cylindrical recess, C', within which is iitted a bar, F, (seen in Figs. 3 and 6.) that, when in place, substantially completes the circular lines of said enlargement, and enables it to fill loosely the bearing B. The inner end of the bar F curves to one side, as seen, and passes into and through one end of the connectingbar E, after which said end turns sharply downward, so as to form a locking-lug, f, which insuresrthe relative positions of said parts. Upon the rear or outer side of the curved portion of the bar F is provided a lug,j7, having parallel upper and lower sides, which tits into a corresponding slot, c, provided within the enlarged end of the pivotal bar C, and prevents said bar F from rotating within the recess C. As thus combined, it will be seen that if the outer end of the bar F be moved sidewise or in a horizontal plane its curved portion will rock within the recess C and form the equivalent of an axial bearing for the same, and that such movement of said bar, communicated through its inner end to the connecting-bar E, will cause the grate-bars to vibrate upon their axial bearings. The outer end or sha-nk of the bar F is so constructed as to enable it to receive a shaker-handle of ordinary form. In order that ashes and dust may be prevented from entering the recess C', so as to injure the parts or to obstruct their operation, a lip, 0, is provided upon the ripper side of the enlarged end of the bar C, which lip extends over and forms ashield forsaid Y parts. The forward end ofthe connecting-bar E is sustained in position vertically by means of the shank-bar F, while its rear end rests upon a lug, C, which extends horizontally outward from the bar C, by which means said connecting-bar, not being dependent for support upon the grate-bars, does not in any manner cramp or confine them, except within the desired limits. The end grate bars Dl are each provided with a number of spurs, dm', which extend outward toward the end A ofthe bed-plate, and at their outer sides are formed upon curved lines of which the aXis of horizontal motion is the center. The inner edge of said bed-plate is in like manner provided with a series of spurs, a', which are formed upon lines concentric to those of said spurs 11, and are so placed as to pass between the latter whenever the .grate is shaken. By this arrangement the movement of the end bars thoroughly agitates the coal resting thereon without in any manner increasing the resistance offered or rendering more strength necessary to operate the grate. f

Owing to the construction ofthe grate-bars, the side of the grate opposite to the connecting-bar is the heaviest, and when unobstructed drops downward to a horizontal position, beyond which it is prevented from passing by the forward end of said connecting-bar, which following-named advantages:

` are longitudinal.

i'rnpinges against the lower side and forward end of the bed-plate.

The grate is now complete, and possesses the First, by the use of transverse instead of longitudinal bars, the injurious effect of the eXtreme heat of the burning fuel is so much reduced as to be but one-ninth as great as in gratesw-here the bars Second, the bearing-surfaces are so fully protected from the direct action of the heat, and from ashes and dust, as to materially increase the durability ofthe grate over those commonly employed. Third, as a whole, the grate is simple in construction, easy of operation, and efticientin clearing the fuel fronrashes and clinker.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, what I claim as new 1.. A stove-grate provided with transverse bars, which are capable of `a vibratory motion in a horizontal plane, and of a semi-rotation in a vert-ical plane, upon or around the center of vibration, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a stove-grate a series of transverse grate-bars suspended from or upon a central longitudinal supporting-bar, so as to be capable of horizontal vibration at their points of suspension, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. The connecting or vibrating bar E provided with the openings e, in combination with the grate-bars D provided with the curved spurs dl, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. y

4. In combination wit-ha central, pivotal, or supporting-bar, a shank so arranged that by vibrating its outer end sidewise its inner portion shall communicate to the ends of the lateral grate-bars a vibratory motion in a contrary direction, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

5. The shank F capable of the motion described, and combined with the pivotal bar C, and the vibrating or connecting bar 13, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In combination with the bar C provided with the recess C and with the shank-bar F, the lip 0 secured upon said pivotal bar, and extending over said shank-bar, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

7. The pivoted, end grate-bars D', provided with the spurs df, in combination with the ends A ofthe bed-plate provided with the spurs a, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. Y

8. The hereinbefore-described fire-grate as a whole, when its several parts are constructed and combined: to operate in the manner and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of April, 1873.

Witnesses: WILLIAM J. KEEP.

HENRY W. LAURN, JAMES DARROW. 

